Tim Cook: iPad Pro Will Replace Notebooks and Desktops for 'Many, Many People'

[whodatrr]

I think this is actually a pretty big point. For content consumption, touch is wonderful. It allows one to roll through and interact with content, naturally. For content production, more precision if often needed. While I love mu Surface Pro, I couldn't imagine writing or editing a large MS Word Doc or Excel spreadsheet, without the trackpad. Being able to really dial the curser in with accuracy becomes important, and constantly switching from the keyboard to screen touch or using a pen would be a hassle.

Even if all the apps one needed were there, and I suspect they will be for a certain class user, the fact that the keyboard doesn't include a trackpad or some kind of pointer is limiting. Does that mean users will have to lug mice around, or that they'll need to purchase the pencil?

My Surface Pro 3 stylus has remained pretty much unused, BTW. Used it a bit for OneNote, but my penmanship sucks. So now it's only brought out when the kids want to play with fresh Paint.

My iPads now sit mostly unused. My 6s can do most of what they do, and for a long time the SP3 was my go-to light and mobile system. For the past few weeks, however, even my SP3 is somewhat neglected. I just bought a retina MacBook... LOL

no mouse

 

[Spink10]

Fascinating observation.

Did you read the OP? Seriously. It's about this being a desktop and laptop replacement. No mouse = no replacement.

 

[Eidorian]

I like that you killed Netbooks but then they came back as slim notebooks with 16 - 64 GB of eMMC running Windows 10 or Chrome OS. Some of them even have IPS screens!

I just don't see the iPad Pro killing even your own notebook lineup.

 

[TonyC28]

Tim Cook may be right, but I think it will be over time. People who are casual users who are using their computer to check their email and Facebook all day could easily get away with an iPad. Those are the people who may use an iPad and when their computer dies one day they might not bother replacing it.

 

[RockSpider]

LOL yeah, keep dreamin, Tim.

Not until it runs Mac OS.

I know right, if they ever make a movie about this guy, it will be a black comedy, what a w--nker.

 

[AdonisSMU]

A big part of the iPad's appeal is the price - $270-$830 depending on size and configuration. I bought a 64GB Cellular iPad Air 2 for $630 last holiday season because I wanted one and there really isn't a good laptop in that price range.

A 128GB WiFi iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard will cost $1120. That is too expensive for an iPad. At that price, I think most people would begin comparing it to the Retina Macbook, which has double the storage for $180 more and weighs about the same; or to the 13-inch Macbook Air, which is $120 less; or to the 11-inch Macbook Air, which is $220 less. The battery life in those computers is just as good if not better, and they are certainly more capable with full OS X. Sure, you won't have a nifty star-gazing app that you can draw on, but that is a small loss for many.

Yeah but then you are getting one device vs 2 devices. Many people like the tablet capability of their iPads. They just needed a good sturdy keyboard and a larger display to use for productivity. This was always the plan. I can remember when there were many a rumor stating that Apple would build it's own computers with their A series chips. Well here we are folks.

 

[Robert.Walter]

"...maybe an app, maybe something else."

Keep your eyes peeled for the something else like diagnostic watch bands or apps like Air Strip. These will drive changes to the medical (research, monitoring and tharapy) and insurance industries.

 

[bladerunner2000]

LOL, is he delusional? There's nothing a laptop can't do that a tablet can.

 

[oneMadRssn]

"PCs are going to be like trucks. They are still going to be around. However, only one out of x people will need them."
- Steve Jobs

For a lot of people, this idea that only some people need a full fledged laptop or desktop computer is already a reality. Us techie people don't see it though, because we love our computers. We're the truck drivers.

Great analogy. Trucks are still the best selling category of cars today. http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-auto-sales/ So if Jobs meant that one or more out of two people will need them, then he was right.

 

[RockSpider]

I spotted no lies.


They will when they need to upgrade their computers again. iPad Pro is as stable and sturdy as a computer maybe even moreso.

How do you know the Pro is stable and sturdy it hasn't even hit the market yet, it could bend just leaving it sit on the edge of a table.

 

[TMRJIJ]

Did you read the OP? Seriously. It's about this being a desktop and laptop replacement. No mouse = no replacement.

Yes, I have read the OP. Have you noticed a lot of PCs lately having touch screens and essentially becoming tablet themselves?
Not having a mouse doesn't stop people from using a tablet as their main computer. Besides that the iOS UI would not work well with mouse input

 

[The Cappy]

Many many people? I guess that's less than a handful in my perspective. The thing isn't much more useful than a 300$ iPad Mini and it can cost as much as a MacBook, I guess there are only a few artists that can take advantage of the Stylus game for real

I remember people saying the same thing about iPad vs iPhone. But it's more an indictment on your lack of imagination than on the iPad Pro's lack of increased functionality. Perhaps you don't do anything useful on your iPad mini. For me, though, the iPad Pro is very exciting.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Yeah but then you are getting one device vs 2 devices. Many people like the tablet capability of their iPads. They just needed a good sturdy keyboard and a larger display to use for productivity. This was always the plan. I can remember when there were many a rumor stating that Apple would build it's own computers with their A series chips. Well here we are folks.

I don't think anyone said that and followed it with "and I'm willing to pay as much as an entry-level Macbook Pro."

 

[Christian 5G]

Not for me and I am sure.

 

[topdrawer]

Yes, I have read the OP. Have you noticed a lot of PCs lately having touch screens and essentially becoming tablet themselves?
Not having a mouse doesn't stop people from using a tablet as their main computer. Besides that the iOS UI would not work well with mouse input

i don't have a mouse at work. the only thing that i use my macbook at home is for illustration which i could easily replace with an ipad pro if it works well enough. i can't stand any sort of lag when drawing.

 

[Spink10]

Yes, I have read the OP. Have you noticed a lot of PCs lately having touch screens and essentially becoming tablet themselves?
Not having a mouse doesn't stop people from using a tablet as their main computer. Besides that the iOS UI would not work well with mouse input

Most have the option for a mouse if so desired.

I agree that the iOS UI isn't designed for a mouse its also not design to be a desktop / laptop replacement for most people.

 

[tys]

This is true.

I have a wide network of people across all ages and professions, and it's quite surprising how many people tell me that they barely touch their computer because the iPad does everything they need.

Mostly true for me. Pretty much the only thing I use an actual computer for anymore is for jailbreaking my iDevices

 

[HiRez]

Regarding the watch with FDA approvals, what if the watch itself contained no sensors, but the sensor module was a separate piece that snaps into the bottom of the watch? And they could even sell custom sensor modules with different configurations depending on what you need, including just the heartbeat sensor like now that requires no approval.

 

[AdonisSMU]

I don't think anyone said that and followed it with "and I'm willing to pay as much as an entry-level Macbook Pro."

It does more than a standard Retina MacBook.

Can it run Xcode or other IDEs? No. Can it run any of the full desktop Adobe Suite? No. Can it run the full MS Office Suite? No.

Can it replace notebooks for "many, many people"? No.

Adobe already runs on iPad and now there is even a version of it you can use the pencil with. Additionally, there are already text editors/IDEs for the iPad. The iPad Pro will make this even easier going forward. They still need a good terminal app honestly.

 

[kazmac]

Some very valid for and against posts here. I can understood what Tim Cook means and agree to an extent. As some folks only computer is a phone, so that could be the case here too.

Unless my upcoming studies absolutely demand an iPad Pro, I'll be waiting quite some time for this. The lack of a file system, full blown OS and the price make this is no-go right now. Along with that extra super dependable iOS software, it's a definite watch and wait.

 

[NickD73]

Apple execs are in full blown desperation mode, or just in complete denial. Why buy a PC? I say why buy a iPad Pro...

 

[Lesser Evets]

I don't like this Tim Cook guy, but in this case I must say HE IS RIGHT....

IF...

There is some way to back it up and offload data to an external disk drive. Not that creepy "iCloud" thing, but a real HD sitting next to the iPad Pro on a desk. Otherwise, he's smoking' some heavy dope. It will also rely on better apps, but that's not necessary for most people to switch to this product instead of having an OS X notebook/desktop.

 

[coltman75]

no mouse

Thank god.

 

[Ghost31]

ITT: people who do professional work and need a laptop or a desktop commenting how they don't want a tablet for work.

Amusing to watch...really? You aren't going to develop or code with an iPad? Who knew? Thanks for commenting and letting all of us know what a failure this will be because you can't play with Xcode on it

 

[brentsg]

I'm the opposite of some comments here. I wouldn't buy the iPad Pro if it ran "full blown" OSX. I have a Surface Pro 4 that I'm evaluating for work and I never use it as a tablet.